1
a(1)
: a felted sheet of usually vegetable fibers laid down on a fine screen from a water suspension
(2)
: a similar sheet of other material (such as plastic)
b
: a piece of paper
2
a
: a piece of paper containing a written or printed statement : document
pedigree papers
b
: a piece of paper containing writing or print
c
: a formal written composition often designed for publication and often intended to be read aloud
presented a scholarly paper at the meeting
d
: a piece of written schoolwork
3
: a paper container or wrapper
4
5
: the negotiable notes or instruments of commerce
7
: tickets
especially
: free passes
8
papered; papering
ˈpā-p(ə-)riŋ 
1
archaic
: to put down or describe in writing
2
: to fold or enclose in paper
3
: to cover or line with paper
especially
: to apply wallpaper to
4
: to fill by giving out free passes
paper the theater for opening night
5
: to cover (an area) with advertising bills, circulars, or posters
: to hang wallpaper
1
a
: made of paper, cardboard, or papier-mâché
a paper bag
b
: papery
2
: of or relating to clerical work or written communication
3
: existing only in theory : nominal
a paper blockade
4
: admitted by free passes
a paper audience
5
: finished with a crisp smooth surface similar to that of paper
paper taffeta
Synonyms
Examples of paper in a Sentence
Noun
We'll need pens, glue, and some paper.
Be sure to print the letter on good paper.
He scribbled the number on a scrap of paper.
a crumpled piece of paper
The border guards asked to see my papers.
They published a landmark paper in 1995.
The teacher was busy grading papers.
She did well on her history paper.
Adjective
Their accounts showed lots of paper profits, but they went bankrupt anyway.
there's a paper boycott of that company's products that nobody seems to be honoring
Recent Examples on the Web
Worth Sparkman, Axios, 20 Nov. 2024
The exhibition, which opens to the public Friday, features 300-plus canvases and works on paper that were donated by artist Martin Wong 30 years ago.
—Rosemary Feitelberg, WWD, 20 Nov. 2024
Stephen Humphries, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 Nov. 2024
Or the nearly life-size whale mural papering the side of I-43?
—Maia Pandey, Journal Sentinel, 11 Nov. 2024
The Salt Lake Tribune, 24 Aug. 2022
Staples, clips and other non-paper materials must be removed.
—Shirley MacFarland, cleveland, 26 Aug. 2022
See all Example Sentences for paper 
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Noun
This process is frequently done on paper, Martin said, which has obvious shortcomings.
—Worth Sparkman, Axios, 20 Nov. 2024
The exhibition, which opens to the public Friday, features 300-plus canvases and works on paper that were donated by artist Martin Wong 30 years ago.
—Rosemary Feitelberg, WWD, 20 Nov. 2024
Verb
Its walls are papered with Kenny Rogers album covers, posters of Johnny Cash, and flyers for Lainey Wilson.
—Stephen Humphries, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 Nov. 2024
Or the nearly life-size whale mural papering the side of I-43?
—Maia Pandey, Journal Sentinel, 11 Nov. 2024
Adjective
In the financial world, assets can be divided into two types: paper assets, and non-paper assets.
—The Salt Lake Tribune, 24 Aug. 2022
Staples, clips and other non-paper materials must be removed.
—Shirley MacFarland, cleveland, 26 Aug. 2022
See all Example Sentences for paper
Dictionary Entries Near paper
Cite this Entry
“Paper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/paper. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
paper
1 of 3 noun
pa·per
ˈpā-pər
paper
2 of 3 verb
papered; papering
ˈpā-p(ə-)riŋ
: to cover or line with paper and especially wallpaper
paper a room
paper
3 of 3 adjective1
a
: of, relating to, or made of paper or cardboard
paper carton
paper mills
b
: papery
nuts with paper shells
2
Etymology
Noun
Middle English papir "paper," from early French papier (same meaning), from Latin papyrus "paper, papyrus" — related to papyrus
Legal Definition
paper
noun
pa·per
1
: a piece of paper containing a written statement: as
a
: a formal written composition or document often intended for publication
the Federalist papers
b
: a document containing a statement of legal status, identity, authority, or ownership
—often used in pl. whether applying to one or more items
naturalization papers
this policy, including the endorsements and the attached papers—Mutual of Omaha
Mutual of Omaha
c
: a document (as an answer, motion, or brief) prepared in furtherance of a legal action
any paper after the complaint that is required to be served…must be filed within a reasonable time after service—Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 5(d)
Federal Rules of Civil Procedure Rule 5(d)2
: a document providing evidence of a financial obligation
especially
: commercial paper in this entry
—
accommodation paper
: commercial paper used by one party to accommodate another party
—
bearer paper
: commercial paper that is freely negotiable by the holder and is made payable to bearer compare order paper in this entry
—
chattel paper
: paper that sets out both a buyer's obligation to repay and a lender's or a seller's security interest in the goods bought or that contains the provisions of a lease of the goods
—
commercial paper
: a usually negotiable instrument (as a note, draft, or certificate of deposit) arising out of a commercial transaction
specifically
: any of the instruments constituting the obligations of a business organization that are sold as investments
—
order paper
: commercial paper that is payable to order compare bearer paper in this entry
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